Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-06-02

Iall III mas none, In the common
acceptation of the term, the body APP
pearing as if it had been cut off short
and abruptly, and a not very distinct
frill set around the edge, utterly use
less, or nearly SO, as an organ of loco
motion. Its mouth is very small, and
contains hard teeth, joined together.
The skin is very rough, scaleless and
presenting very coarse surface COW
cred with gelatinous coating.
Ordinarily, the sunfish is of compar-
atively small size, attaining length
of four or five feet, but this giant
grounded on the Florida shoal was
nearly eight feet from the tip of one
fin to that of the other-a veritable
monster, and a prize indeed.
1t had ventured in from the ocean,
and become stranded on the bank, the
lower fin striking the sand just as
many vessels keel had done before.
The boat that had started was now
near the great fish. A few more lusty
strokes brought her alongside, and as
the fish swayed over, the top fin of the
lethargic giant was seized. This
seemed to arouse it to new sense of
its danger, as it moved off, towing the
boat moment; then breaking away
to righten, it grounded again, and be-
gan its splashing about with renewed
vigor.
As the wreckers had no spear, they
determined to fasten a rope to the fish;
but this was almost an impossibility.
Finally one of the men leaped into the
water, and grasping the fish by the
gills with one hand, and the back by
the other, endeavored to lift it so that
rope could be passed under the body.
This, however, was easier said than
done, and in moment the adventure
Gus wrecker was jerked from his feet
and carried along several feet until the
sunfsh grounded again.
Again the boat was put alongside,
this time slip-noose being thrown
over the top fin, and little later an
other similarly disposed about the low
er. The great fish was now in veri-
table harness, and fastening the rope
to the seat, the row toward shore was
commenced.
For while the fish did not object to
this mode of procedure; but as the chan
mel was reached, that it was necessary
to cross before coming to the shore,
the captive, evidently realizing that it
had new chance, made a terrific dash.
and was soon towing the boat, stern
foremost. at a rapid rate down the riv-
er toward the sea.
SO sudden was the movement that
the stern was nearly pulled under wa
ter, and the frail craft would have
swamped but for the smoothness of the
water.
Creeping toward the stern, the rope
was gradually slackened out, and while
one wrecker turned the boat about with
an oar, the other transferred the rope
to the bow As soon rs it began to
tauten, on they rushed again, theil
huge steed giving no sign of diminish
ing its pace.
But the great fish was destined tC
become wreck Instead of keeping
to the channel, it now swan directly
in the middle of the river, and soor
ran its long lower fin into the sand o.
the bank, keeled over upon its side
and began the foundering that hat
first attracted attention.
Again the same maneuvers were
gone through with to fasten II rope un
der it, and finally the head of the gian
was secured to the stern, so its strug
giles did not impede the little craft.
In this position they again headed
for Pilot Town, and after hard pul
against the current the fish was haule,
by a dozen willing hands upon thu
shore, where for many days it was al
object of curiosity to The people 10
miles around. The enterprising wreck
ers erected tent over it and charge,
an admission fee. It's now, l believe
in some scientific institution of tn
North. 1t must have weighed seven o
eight hundred pounds, and was proba
bly, the largest specimen of the kin,
ever seen.
From its peculiar shape, the sunfisl
!, would not be considered very rapi'
/, swimmer, and it is probable the mos
.. lethargic in its habits of all fishes.
1t has wide geographical range, be
ing found in many seas. OFF the NeN
England coast it is often seen, rollin
to and fro on the top of the water, an
| in this way small ones are sometime
seized and lifted into boats with hardl
any resistance. They are very fond G
rolling on the surface, or lying fla
upon it for hours, basking in the sur
and perhaps from this habit it ha
. gained its name in this country.
The sunfishes found in the Meditel
ranean Sea are called moonfishes b
: the sailors-perhaps, as has been sus
gested, for their form or shape, br
: chiefly because they often present tn
|, appearance of pale, luminous sphere
or moons under water. This is due
J their luminous properties. Probabl
u the jelly-like covering with which the
y are enveloped becomes phosphorescen
I and gives them the remarkable appea
e ance for which they are noted.
= As common as the sunfishes are, bl
5 little is known of their habits or fooc
1t is presumed that they eat jell,
q fishes, but the powerful, pincer-lil
. teeth seem to point to different diet
e Several kinds are known, and Il
e young are quite different from Il
!. adults in shape. They are entirely III
IL fit for food-the fishermen bringin
e them in for the larger liver. whiC
e .hax- nSa Cor a variety of nurDoSas :